FAQ

Family Health Teams provide family health care services  by working with a family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and a range of other health care professionals.

They develop community-based  programs that emphasize health promotion, illness prevention and early detection/diagnosis. 

FHTs links patients to other parts of the health care system such as acute care, long-term care, public health, mental health, addictions, and community programs and services.

Adapted from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/fht/docs/fht_roadmap.pdf

A Family Health Team provides care to patients in a collaborative approach. Teams consist of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, dietitians, social workers, and more.

Being registered with the team allows for you to have access to many more services (FREE) such as: other health professionals, an after-hours clinic for evening and weekend visits, and a Telephone Health Advisory Service to call for urgent issues.

By working together, the best possible care is delivered to patients compassionately and effectively.

No. Registration for the Family Health Team is recommended, but voluntary.

The Humber River FHT currently has Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Diabetes Education Nurse, Social Workers, Dietitians, a Chiropodist and a Pharamcist.

A Family Health Team member will contact you to arrange an appointment. If you do not receive a call within 7 days of seeing your doctor, please call 416-740-2810 or 647-342-8266.

No. Seeing any of the health professionals is a benefit of being registered in the Family Health Team. There is no cost.

HRFHT has 8 different locations. View our locations here. 

When your appointment is booked, you will be given the option to choose which location you would like to go to.

In person counselling sessions or virtual appts are offered to patients.

Yes. Speak to your health professional about switching so you can be booked for an appropriate appointment at the right place.

HRFHT has a cancellation and no show policy.

All appointments need at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellation. If you do not show for two consecutive appointments, you will not be rebooked at that time and you will be required to revisit your family physician for another referral.

A Social Worker at HRFHT is a health care professional responsible for the psycho-social needs of each patient. Through a combination goal setting, therapy, and education, their goal is to empower each patient to achieve mental wellness.  

Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses who have expanded education levels and who work closely with your doctor to provide superior quality of care. They are an integral part of HRFHT as they are able to:

• diagnose and treat illnesses
• order tests
• prescribe medications
• involve patients in decisions related to their care 
• improve access to primary health care
• provide high-quality management of chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)
• create and maintain close relationships with patients

Nurse Practitioners are continuously teaching individuals and their families about healthy living, preventing diseases, and managing illnesses.

The After Hours Clinic is for registered patients to seek medical care when their doctor is not available.

Avoid Walk-In Clinics as they do not have your full medical history. By seeing our medical team you can be assured that your medical information stays in one place and we can continue your care.

If you are having an emergency, please visit your nearest emergency department or call 911 immediately.

Patients who are registered with the HRFHT are able to see the doctor that is available during the After Hours Clinic. To find out if your doctor is part of the Humber River Family Health Team, check the monthly schedule or call the information line at 647-288-1006.

Please visit our Physician Schedule page for up to date schedule information.

Please do not come to our office if you have any Covid Symptoms

After Hours Clinic Information Line: 647-288-1006. Virtual consultation with the Doctor On-Call is available to patients registered with the FHT & FHO from for urgent sick visits only. Contact your Family Physicians for:  Regular Visits/Immunizations, Narcotic Prescription, Forms, Doctor's Notes, TB Tests & Interpretations.

Avoid Walk-In Clinics they don't have your full medical history. By seeing our medical team you can be assured that your medical information stays in one place and we can continue your care.

Remember to bring a valid health card to every appointment.

There are 32 family physicians in the HRFHT. Each day, there will be a different Doctor On-Call. To find out when your doctor will be at the clinic check the monthly After Hours Clinic schedule or call 647-288-1006.

Your family physician will receive your notes within 24 hours of your visit to the clinic.

Diabetes is a metabolism disorder that causes a person to have high sugar levels in their blood. 

When we eat food it is broken down by the digestive system into smaller parts so that the body can use its nutrients.

A majority of the food is broken down into glucose (sugar).

Glucose is the body's main source of energy and is transported through the blood to the cells with the help of insulin. The main causes of diabetes are low/no insulin production or bad/no insulin reception of the cells. 

Common symptoms may include:

• Urinating often                    
• Smelling Acetone (Nail polish remover)
• Feeling hungry after eating
• Blurry vision
• Slow healing cuts and bruises
• Weight loss even after increase calorie intake (Type 1)
• Tingling, pain or numbness in hands or feet.
• Gestational Diabetes (GDM) has no or mild symptoms and are not life threatening. 

 There are 3 types of Diabetes;

• Type 1
• Type 2
• Gestational Diabetes (GDM) - affects pregnant women

Pre-diabetes is the medical term determined by your doctor based on your blood sugar results.

These blood results indicate abnormal, uncontrolled or impaired blood sugars meaning that there is a higher risk of progression to diabetes.

In order to reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and high blood sugars, patients may need to make lifestyle changes (nutrition, exercise, stress) and/or take medications related to blood sugar control or reduction of risk factors. 

Mental health refers to anything to do with our physiological or emotional condition; it is about the way we feel, think, and the way we conduct ourselves in everyday life. 

Mental illnesses/disorders is any condition that effects the way an individual feels, thinks, behaves, or relates to their environment.

here are many triggers/causes of mental illnesses. Some of the causes are:

• Biological - chemical imbalance in the brain
• Hereditary - it could be in your family (genetics)
• Physiological Trauma – examples such as abuse and neglecting
• Environmental stressors - surrounding environment causing stress